The CMSE Conference, Training and Exhibition promotes new technology and advancements in electronic components for use in military and space electronic systems. The DoD and NASA continue to emphasize the use of commercial electronics, where suitable, to drive down procurement and life cycle cost of military/components for use in military and space electronic
systems. The DoD and NASA continue to emphasize the use of commercial electronics, where suitable, to drive down procurement and life cycle cost of military/aerospace systems. Many new components are only available as advanced PEMS and COTS. This conference focuses on how to successfully incorporate these new technologies into the harsh environments of military and space systems, which often require ten or twenty year mission life.

EPC Partners with Freebird Semiconductor for Development of Radiation Hardened Gallium Nitride Power Conversion Systems for Satellite and Harsh Environment Applications

Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) and Freebird Semiconductor have entered into an agreement whereby Freebird will develop products for use in high reliability space and harsh environment applications based upon eGaN® power transistors and integrated circuits.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — April 2016 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC), the leading provider of enhancement-mode gallium nitride power transistors, announces the signing of an agreement with Freebird Semiconductor Corporation, North Andover, Massachusetts to develop products for use in high reliability, space, and harsh environment applications based upon EPC’s eGaN® technology.

Dr. Simon Wainwright, President and CEO of Freebird Semiconductor Corporation stated that, “Freebird is focused upon developing components and circuits to be used in highly efficient, radiation hardened power conversion systems for use in harsh environment and space applications.” He further commented that, “GaN technology will permit space applications to utilize the latest in high performance semiconductor material, whereas when using silicon-based components in these applications produces systems that are behind the latest performance curves.”

“The superior conductivity and switching characteristics of GaN devices allow designers to greatly reduce system power losses, size, and weight. Given GaN’s superior state-of-the-art performance, coupled with its demonstrated ability to operate reliably under harsh environmental conditions and high radiation, GaN devices have a very bright future in space applications. We are excited to be supporting Freebird in the development of their GaN-based products,” noted Dr. Alex Lidow, EPC CEO and Co-founder.

In addition to collaborating on power systems product development, the two companies will be active in publishing the results of their work and giving joint presentations at professional conferences. It is important that GaN’s superior performance and design conditions be shared with the rest of the industry to further rapid adoption of this emerging technology.

About EPC

EPC is the leader in enhancement mode gallium nitride based power management devices and was the first to introduce enhancement-mode gallium-nitride-on-silicon (eGaN) FETs as power MOSFET replacements in applications such as DC-DC converters, wireless power transfer, envelope tracking, RF transmission, power inverters, remote sensing technology (LiDAR), and class-D audio amplifiers with device performance many times greater than the best silicon power MOSFETs.

April 19 – 20, 2016

Torrance, California

The Space Parts Working Group (SPWG) is sponsored by The Aerospace Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and the National Reconnaissance Office. Now in its 45th year, SPWG is an unclassified, international forum for disseminating information to the aerospace industry and for resolving problems with high-reliability electronic piece parts for space applications.

July 11-15, 2016

Held at the The Double Tree and Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.

The conference features a technical program consisting of eight to ten technical sessions of contributed papers describing the latest observations in radiation effects

Papers on nuclear and space radiation effects on electronic and photonic materials, devices, circuits, sensors, and systems, as well as semiconductor processing technology and design techniques for producing radiation-tolerant (hardened) devices and integrated circuits, will be presented at this meeting of engineers, scientists, and managers. International participation is strongly encouraged.

Rad Hard Power Switching GaN

Released Mar 29, 2016
By Jim Larrauri

High Reliability – Enhancement Mode – Radiation Hardened Gallium Nitride (GaN) HEMT Power Switching devices shall be unveiled into the industry. Freebird Semiconductor a pioneer of high reliability commercial space (GaN) power devices will discuss these capabilities at the upcoming “Space Parts Working Group” hosted by Aerospace Corporation April 19th, 2016 in Torrance California – Stay Tuned as we have more to come!

About SPWG:

The Space Parts Working Group (SPWG) is sponsored by the Aerospace Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Airforce Space Missile Systems Center (SMC) and the National Reconnaissance Office. Now in its 45th year, SPWG is an unclassified, international forum for disseminating information to the aerospace industry and for resolving problems with high-reliability electronic piece parts for space applications.